Separating device for circuit interrupters



Mar ch 15, 1927. T. s PUKERUD ,026

SEPARATING DEVICE FOR CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS Filed May 24. 192-3 INVENTOR Thomas S. Puke/"0d ATTORNEY Patented Mai. 15, 192?.

v ama THOMAS STENSEN PUKEBUD, OF WILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- ENG-HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVAN'IA.

S EiPARATING DEVIIQE FOR CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS.

Application filed. may 24,

' My invention relates to liquidinsulating electrical devices and more particularly to separating devices used in connection there- Y I with.

I 6 One object of my invention is to provide liquid-insulated electrical devices with a device for separating suspended particles of liquid from the escaping gases.

Another object of my invention is to pro.-

vide a separating device having means for absorbing small particles of suspended liquid from the gases which pass there-. through.

It 1s also an object of my invention to provide a separating device having the required' mechanical details for performing the -aforementioned objects.

- In liquid insulated electrical devices, it is customary to provide the casing with venting means for permitting breathing, and for preventing the formation of dangerous pressures. These venting means are frequently made in the form of separating dGVlCBS in order that any are gases which maybe generated in the apparatus will be cooled and prevented from mingling with the air under such conditions that violent explosions may occur. During the passage of gases to and from the casing throughslich vent, it has been found that a certain amount of liquid is wasted by reason of small particles of liquid becoming suspended-in the gases and thrown out of the casing, while dust and moisture are drawn into the casing. 1 propose to prevent the loss of liquid by providm a suitable absorbent mater al which is s ciently porous to permit the passage of a portion 0 the ases, but is impervious to the passage of t 0 small particles of suspended liquid, I also prevent a certainamount of this waste by arranging certain layers of absorbent material in such manner that the liquid bearing gases impinge thereon and move along the surfaces thereof, whereby they de osit the suspended particles of liquid w "ch are absorbed by the absorbing material. The absorbent material similarly strains and purifies the incoming gases. v

5 The liquid which has become thus caught is allowed to drain back into the casing under the influence of the force. of gravity by proper design of the separator structure.

provided with a 1923. Serial No. ($41,073.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a fragmentary view, in elevation, of the casing of an electrical deviceequipped with a separator.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved separator device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially in section, of the .separator, and V Fig. l 1s a sectional view of the separator device taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

In the several figures of the drawing, similar reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the preferred forni of my invention a liquid insulated electrical device, such as a transformer or circuit interrupter, is placed in a tank 1 which is provided with a cover 2, suitable electrical connections 3, and a suitable mechanical connection ,4. The cover member 2 is rovided with a vent 5 into which is fitte a separating device 6 which embodies my invention.

The separating device 6 comprises an outer casing 7 to which is attached'a cover 8 by suitable means, such as bolts 9 which are threaded into an extension 11 on the casing The cover 8 does nottightly fit the casing 7, but is arran ed to provide a tortuous path 12 between the interior of the casing and the atmosphere through the ,vents 13.

Within the casing-7, there is placed a lining 14 .of suitable absorbent material, such as felt. It is to be understood that the use of the term felt as used in this application is intended to cover any and all types of absorbent material which may be used for a similar purpose. A suitable winding 15 of a binding material, such as wire netting, is associated with the lining 14 in order to preserve the shape thereof.

of small chambers by a plurality of battles 18 which are .arranged throughout the entire length thereof. The bafiles 18 are each erforation 19, which is preferably locate in the center thereof. Between each pair of baflies 18 there is tits placed a layer 21 of absorbent material which is free to move relatively to its confining baffle members. The base of the separating device is provided with a suitable opening 22 in which is threaded a connector 23, the latter being adapted to fit into the vent 5 in the cover-member 2.

In the event of the occurrence of an excessive pressure of gas within the tank 1 from any cause, such as the operation of a circuit interrupter or differences in pressure caused by seasonal temperatu'rejchanges, the

gases tend to escape through the separating leaving the tank 2, the gases pass through connector 23 and the opening 22 into the separating device 6. The gases tend to rise through; the several bafile members as is shown by the arrows in Fig. 2.

After passing the opening 19 in. the bottom of the casing 16, the gases encounter the first absorbing member 21. small amount of the gases passes through the ab sorbent material, but by far the greater quantity lifts the material 21 away from the opening 19, as is shown in the dot and dash position in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the gases to escape upwardly, through open- 19 in the adjacent bafile member 18. same operation is repeated during the passage ofthe gases through the successive baflle members 18.- A certam portion of the liquid suspended in the gas mixture is blown against each of the absorbingmembers 21 and held thereby. By causing the gases to change their direction in passing along the face of each of the absorbing members 21, a greater portion of the gas is exposed to such absorbing surfaces and the velocity of the gas is proportionally decreased, both of these factors serving to facilitate the'absorption of a larger percentage of the liquid by members 21.

A certain portion of the gases escape from between the baffle members through the perforations li and impinge upon, and move along, the surface of the lining 14 which absorbs the suspended particles of liquid. By providinga sufficient number of baffles 18 and absorbing members 21 together with a suflicient exposed surface area of the lining 14, it is, possible to remove practically all of the suspended particles of liquid in the escaping gas. The particles of liquid which have been trapped in the several absorbing. members collect and slowly drip back into the tank 1 under the influence of the force of gravity. 1

In the event that the directional movement of the gases traversing the muffler 6 is from the atmosphere to the tank 1, the absorbing members 21 fit snugly over the openings 19 in the bafile members 18 and the lining 14 tends to fit the casing 16 whereby the incoming, gas is cleaned from suspended particles of dust and moisture.-

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the arrangement of details shown in the accompanying drawings, as for example, the

lining 14 may be omitted, or the perforations may be omitted from the surface of the casing 16; The binding member 15,may also be omitted, if desired.

I have, accordingly, provided means for separating the suspended particles of liquid from an escaping body of gas without materially interfering with the escape of such gas or creating a material back pressure. It will be observed that my invention is particularly applicable. to that class of electricagi apparatus which is immersed. in a liqui mulation of a volume of gas within the housing for the apparatus.

I claim as my invention: v

1. In a separating structure, a casing, a lining therefor comprising an absorbent material, an inner casing provided with a perforated surface, perforated baflle members mounted in said casing, and cushions of absorbent material associated with said baflle members.

2. In a separating structure, a casing, a lining therefor comprising an absorbent material, an inner casing provided with a perforated surface, perforated baflle members mounted in said'casing, and cushions of absorbent material associated with said baffle plates and adapted forvmovement relatively to the perforations therein.

3. In a separating structure, a casing, an inner casing provided with a. perforated surface, perforated battle members mounted and which is subjected to the accu-' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of May, 1923.

THOMAS STENSEN PUKERUD. 

